NASA's John C. Stennis Space Center presented its highest honor for quality and performance, the Contractor Excellence Award, to Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne (PWR) for its commitment to teamwork, safety, customer service, and technical and managerial excellence at the center.
PWR is based in Canoga Park, Calif., with operations in several other locations, including an engine assembly facility at Stennis Space Center. The company developed the space shuttle main engine, which powered 135 shuttle missions from 1981 to 2011. PWR is now developing the J-2X engine that will help power NASA's evolved Space Launch System vehicle on deep-space missions. The company also develops engines for military rockets and missiles.
The Contractor Excellence Award was presented to PWR during a Jan. 10 ceremony at Stennis. The Stennis Contractor Excellence Award was established in 2008 to recognize contractors, subcontractors or providers for outstanding performance during a three-year period.
Stennis Director Rick Gilbrech praised PWR for its support of the NASA mission. "The PWR team is an invaluable partner in rocket engine testing and overall support of the space program," he said. "We celebrate their record of achievement and excellence and look forward to working together with them as the nation continues its return to deep space missions."
For information about Stennis, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/centers/stennis.